Himalayan Jyoti Samiti, Mussoorie

Their major programs:

• Girl Education Program (GEP): GEP is a holistic scholarship for underprivileged girls to complete secondary school. The main activities under GEP program are academic support, uniform, text books & stationery, life skill development camps, monthly sessions and workshops, exposure visits, tuitions, organizing competitions, health camps, career counselling, community meetings and workshops for parents.
• Project Sakham (Disability): HJS has implemented SAKSHAM for the empowerment of people with disabilities at Chakrata block of district Dehradun in partnership with Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust. The main goal of the program is that People with disabilities and their families have improved access to information and communication. SAKSHAM is implemented through Community-based rehabilitation through combined efforts of disabled people, their families and communities, representatives of appropriate health, education, vocational and social sectors.
• RIB under COF-III-Project: HJS has been implementing RIB Project at Jaunpur block through Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board funded by Sir Ratan Tata Trust. Main goal is to motivate farmers to adopt Organic Agriculture and market the produce through Farmers Producers Groups (FPGs).
• Welfare and Empowerment of women through NABARD’s Self-Help Group (SHG) Promotion Institution (SHPI) program: The main aim is to increase control of poor women over income and spending, through involvement in income generation activities, which will indirectly help in poverty alleviation. 40 female SHGs are formed in Jaunpur block in which 800 women are associated. They also promote an attitudinal change towards the girl child.
• Angora Project: This initiative intends to promote local cottage industries by training people in angora (wool or fibre produced by angora rabbits) products’ production, resulting in traditional artisans supplementing their income as well.